(Christopher), an eminent English poet, celebrated for his excellent translation of Virgil's Aeneid, was born in the year 1699. Having studied four years at New-college, Oxford, he was presented to the living of Pimperne in Dorsetshire, which he held during the remainder of his life. He had so poetical a turn, that while he was a school-boy he wrote two large folios of manuscript poems, one of which contained an entire translation of Lucan. He was much esteemed while at the university; particularly by the celebrated Dr Young, who used familiarly to call him his son. Next to his fine translation of Virgil, Mr Pitt gained the greatest reputation by his excellent English translation of Vida's art of poetry. This amiable poet died in the year 1648, without leaving, it is said, one enemy behind him.

(William) earl of Chatham, a most celebrated British statesman and patriot, was born in November 1708. He was the youngest son of Robert Pitt, Esq.; of Boconock in Cornwall; and grandson of Thomas Pitt, Esq.; governor of Fort St George in the East Indies, in the reign of Queen Anne, who sold an extraordinary fine diamond to the king of France for £135,000l. and thus obtained the name of Diamond Pitt. His intellectual faculties and powers of elocution very soon made a distinguished appearance; but, at the age of 16, he felt the attacks of an hereditary and incurable gout, by which he was tormented at times during the rest of his life.

His lordship entered early into the army, and served in a regiment of dragoons. Through the interest of the duchess of Marlborough, he obtained a seat in parliament before he was 21 years of age. His first appearance in the house was as representative of the borough of Old Sarum, in the ninth parliament of Great Britain. In the 10th he represented Seaford, Aldborough in the 11th, and the city of Bath in the 12th; where he continued till he was called up to the house of peers in 1766. The intention of the duchess in bringing him thus early into parliament was to oppose Sir Robert Walpole, and whom he kept in awe by the force of his eloquence. At her death the duchess left him £10,000l. on condition, as was then reported, that he should never receive a place in administration. However, if any such condition was made, it certainly was not kept on his Lordship's part. In 1746 he was appointed vice-treasurer of Ireland, and soon after paymaster general of the forces, and sworn a privy-counsellor. He discharged the office of paymaster with such honour and inflexible integrity, refusing even many of the perquisites of his office, that his bitterest enemies could lay nothing to his charge, and he soon became the darling of the people. In 1755 he resigned the office of paymaster, on seeing Mr Fox preferred to him. The people were alarmed at this resignation; and being disgusted with the unsuccessful beginning of the war, complained so loudly, that, on the 4th December 1756, Mr Pitt was appointed secretary of state in the room of Mr Fox afterwards Lord Holland; and other promotions were made in order to second his plans. He then took such measures as were necessary for the honour and interest of the nation; but in the month of February 1757, having refused to assent to the carrying on a war in Germany for the sake of his majesty's dominions on the continent, he was deprived of the seals on the 5th of April following. Upon this the complaints of the people again became so violent, that on the 29th of June he was again appointed secretary, and his friends to other important offices. The success with which the war was now conducted is universally known; yet on the 5th of October 1761, Mr Pitt, to the astonishment of almost the whole kingdom, resigned the seals into his majesty's own hands. The reason of this was, that Mr Pitt, having received certain intelligence that the family-compact was signed between France and Spain, and that the latter was about to join France against us, thought it necessary to prevent her by commencing hostilities first. Having communicated this opinion in the privy-council, the other ministers urged that they would think twice before they declared war against this kingdom. "I will not give them leave to think," replied Mr Pitt; "this is the time, let us crush the whole house of Bourbon. But if the members of this board are of a different opinion, this is the last time I shall ever mix in its councils. I was called into the ministry by the voice of the people, and to them I hold myself answerable for my conduct. I am to thank the ministers of the late king for their support; I have served my country with success; but I will not be responsible for the conduct of the war any longer than while I have the direction of it." To this bold declaration, the lord who then presided in council, made the following reply. "I find the gentleman is determined to leave us; nor can I say that I am sorry for it, since he would otherwise have certainly compelled us to leave him. But if he is resolved to assume the right of advising his majesty, and directing the operations of the war, to what purpose are we called to this council? When he talks of being responsible to the people, he talks the language of the house of commons, and forgets that at this board he is responsible only to the king. However, though he may possibly have convinced himself of his infallibility, still it remains that we should be equally convinced before we can resign our understandings to his direction, or join with him in the measure he proposes."

This conversation, which was followed by Mr Pitt's resignation, is sufficient to shew the haughtiness and imperious temper of our minister. However, these very qualities were sometimes productive of great and good consequences, as appears from the following anecdote. —Preparatory to one of the secret expeditions during the last war, the minister had given orders to the different presiding officers in the military, navy, and ordnance departments, to prepare a large body of forces, a certain number of ships, and a proportionable quantity of stores, &c., and to have them all ready against a certain day. To these orders he received an answer from each of the officers, declaring the total impossibility of a compliance with them. Notwithstanding it was then at a very late hour, he sent immediately for his secretary; and after expressing his resentment at the ignorance or negligence of his majesty's servants, wants, he gave the following commands:—"I desire, Mr Wood, that you will immediately go to Lord Anson; you need not trouble yourself to search the admiralty, he is not to be found there; you must pursue him to the gaming-house, and tell him from me, that if he does not obey the orders of government which he has received at my hands, that I will most assuredly impeach him. Proceed from him to Lord Ligonier; and though he should be bolstered with harlots, undraw his curtains, and repeat the same message. Then direct your course to Sir Charles Frederick, and assure him, that if his majesty's orders are not obeyed, they shall be the last which he shall receive from me." In consequence of these commands, Mr Wood proceeded to White's, and told his errand to the first lord of the admiralty; who insisted that the secretary of state was out of his senses, and it was impossible to comply with his wishes: "however, (added he), as madmen must be answered, tell him that I will do my utmost to satisfy him." From thence he went to the commander in chief of the forces, and delivered the same message. He also said that it was an impossible business; "and the secretary knows it, (added the old lord): nevertheless, he is in the right to make us do what we can; and what is possible to do, inform him, shall be done." The surveyor-general of the ordnance was next informed of Mr Pitt's resolution; and, after some little consideration, he began to think that the orders might be completed within the time prefcribed. The consequence, at last, was, that every thing, in spite of impossibilities themselves, was ready at the time appointed.

After his resignation in 1761, Mr Pitt never had any share in administration. He received a pension of 3000l. a-year, to be continued after his decease, during the survivancy of his lady and son; and this gratuity was dignified with the title of Baronet of Chatham to his lady, and that of baron to her heirs-male. Mr Pitt at that time declined a title of nobility; but in 1766 accepted of a peerage under the title of Baron Pynsent and Earl of Chatham, and at the same time he was appointed lord privy-seal.

This acceptance of a peerage proved very prejudicial to his lordship's character. However, he continued steadfast in his opposition to the measures of administration. His last appearance in the House of Lords was on the 2d of April 1778. He was then very ill and much debilitated: but the question was important; being a motion of the duke of Richmond to address his majesty to remove the ministers, and make peace with America on any terms. His lordship made a long speech, which had certainly overcome his spirits: for, attempting to rise a second time, he fell down in a convulsive fit; and though he recovered for that time, his disorder continued to increase till the 11th of May, when he died at his seat at Hayes. His death was lamented as a national loss. As soon as the news reached the house of commons, which was then fitting, Colonel Barré made a motion, that an address should be presented to his majesty, requesting that the Earl of Chatham should be buried at the public expense. But Mr Rigby having proposed the erecting of a statue to his memory, as more likely to perpetuate the sense of his great merits entertained by the public, this was unanimously carried. A bill was soon after passed, by which 4000l. a-year was settled upon John, now Earl of Chatham, and the heirs of the late Earl to whom that title may descend.—His lordship was married in 1754 to Lady Hester, sister to the earl of Temple; by whom he had three sons and two daughters.